Tax Relief on Donations - Midlands Simon Community

Revenue Commissioner’s Charitable Donation Scheme

Do you know that you can make your donation to Midlands Simon Community go even further at no extra cost to you? If you are a taxpayer, we are able to reclaim the tax paid on your donation on your behalf, significantly increasing the value of your original donation.

On donations of €250 and over, in any given year, Midlands Simon Community can claim up to 31% tax refund from Revenue. This means that your donation of €250 is worth an additional €112.32 to Midlands Simon Community. The gross donation is calculated as follows:

- €250 / (100% - 31%) = €362.32. Midlands Simon Community can claim a refund of €112.31 which is €362.32 x 31%.

Midlands Simon Community can claim this extra value if you sign Revenue’s CHY3 or CHY4 form:

- It does not commit you to pay anything more than your original donation
- It will not affect your personal finances or tax status

Please consider releasing the full potential of your donation to Midlands Simon Community by downloading and completing one of the following forms and returning it to: Midlands Simon Community, P.O. Box 27, Athlone, Co Westmeath

- CHY3– Enduring Certificate (Download Here)
- CHY4– Annual Certificate (Download Here)

Alternatively, please let us know if you would like us to send a hard copy of either certificate which you can return in a self-addressed envelope.

Charitable Donation Scheme - FAQ

Overview
The Irish Government’s Charitable Donation Scheme allows for tax relief on qualifying donations made to Midlands Simon Community as well as other eligible charities and approved bodies. This is to help Midlands Simon Community continue to support individuals, couples and families who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, throughout the Midlands Counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

Q. My tax rate is personal, will this information remain confidential?
A. Yes. Your details are confidential to Midlands Simon Community and the Revenue Commissioners. The information will not be used for anything other than this tax claim.

Q. How does the charitable donation scheme work?
A. Midlands Simon Community will post a CHY3 tax relief form to all individual donors whose donations qualify for a tax reclaim (over €250 in a tax year). If you are tax payer, PAYE or self-assessed, simply complete the relevant form and return it in the self-addressed envelope to Midlands Simon Community.

You only need to fill out this form, CHY3– Enduring Certificate, and you don't have to worry about it for 5 years.

This doesn't mean you are committing to support Midlands Simon Community for 5 years. We can only claim back the tax as long as you are a supporter with Midlands Simon Community.

You can also fill out the CHY4– Annual Certificate, but another form would need to be sent next year.

Q. Where do I find my PPS number?
A. You will find this number on your work payslip and quoted on all forms/correspondence sent to you by the Revenue Commissioners.

Q. I do not pay tax, but my husband/wife does.
A. Only the person who makes the donation can sign the tax form and the associated tax refund will be based on this person's tax record.

Q. I am a pensioner, is my donation eligible for the charitable donation scheme?
A. Pensioners may pay some PAYE tax on their pension. We can claim on this amount.

Q. A company made the donation, is it eligible for this scheme?
A. No, when a company makes a donation to Midlands Simon Community, it is the company that claims the relief. The company simply claims a tax deduction on the donation as if it were a trading expense.

Q. What if I give to more than one charity?
A. It does not matter if you have given to other charities as well. Midlands Simon Community only reclaim tax on the donations made to Midlands Simon Community.

Q. Are there rules associated with this scheme?
- Donations must be between €250 and €1,000,000 in any one year to qualify.
- The repayment to an approved body cannot exceed the amount of tax that the donor has paid for that year. - The donor is not allowed a repayment of any tax that has been repaid to the approved body.
- Donations must:
- be in the form of money or designated securities or a combination of both
- not be repayable to the donor
- not benefit the donor or anyone connected with the donor
- not be a condition or connected with any arrangement involved in obtaining a property other than by way of a gift from the donor to the approved body
- Relief will be restricted to 10% of the donor’s annual income if there is a connection between the donor and the approved body. You are connected with an approved body at the time of making a donation if:
- You are an employee or member of that body
- You are a member of another approved body that is connected with the first.

If you need Midlands Simon Community to re-send a donation receipt, please call us on 090 6444641 or email info@midlandssimon.com for assistance. Also see www.revenue.ie for more information on the charitable donation scheme.